RxPG News : Bipolar Disorder

Genes behind bipolar disorder mapped by scientists

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:44:57 PST

In a first, scientists have comprehensively mapped the genes believed to cause bipolar disorder.

First genome-wide study revealed genetic roots of bipolar illness

Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

The likelihood of developing bipolar disorder depends in part on the combined, small effects of variations in many different genes in the brain, none of which is powerful enough to cause the disease by itself, a new study shows. However, targeting the enzyme produced by one of these genes could lead to development of new, more effective medications. The research was conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), with others from the Universities of Heidelberg and Bonn and a number of U.S. facilities collaborating in a major project called the NIMH Genetics Initiative.

Diagnosis of Major Depression Might Mask Bipolar illness

Wed, 09 May 2007 08:32:37 PST

Approximately 4.4 percent of U.S. adults may have some form of bipolar disorder during some point in their lifetime, including about 2.4 percent with a "sub-threshold" condition, according to an article in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Intensive psychotherapy more effective than brief therapy for treating bipolar depression

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:09:24 PST

Patients taking medications to treat bipolar disorder are more likely to get well faster and stay well if they receive intensive psychotherapy, according to results from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD), funded by the National Institutes of Healthâs (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The results are published in the April 2007 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

New Treatment Model for Bipolar Disorder Shows Promise

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:09:00 PST

A new care model for bipolar disorder tested in veterans across the nation reduced their manic episodes and improved their quality of life, according to research led by a psychiatrist with the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Brown Medical School.

Youth with bipolar disorder misread facial expressions as hostile

Tue, 30 May 2006 23:23:00 PST

Youth with bipolar disorder misread facial expressions as hostile and show heightened neural reactions when they focus on emotional aspects of neutral faces, researchers at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered. The study provides some of the first clues to the underlying workings of the episodes of mania and depression that disrupt friendships, school, and family life in up to one percent of children.

Brain Changes Indicating Bipolar Disorder Are Not Prominent Until Adulthood

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:16:00 PST

Changes in the brain that are important indicators of bipolar disorder are not prominent until young adulthood and are reduced in persons taking mood-stabilizing medications, Yale School of Medicine researchers report this month in Biological Psychiatry.

Manic-depressive illness and the FAT gene

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:26:00 PST

A collaboration, led by Sydney scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and University of New South Wales, has discovered the first risk gene specifically for bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness. This means that people who have a particular form of this gene are twice as likely to develop the disease.

One in five teens needing inpatient psychiatric care may be manic-depressive

Wed, 28 Dec 2005 18:31:00 PST

Clinicians at Bradley Hospital, the nation's first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, have found that bipolar disorder is more common than expected in teens in a psychiatric inpatient setting.

Psychosocial Disability Fluctuates Along with Bipolar Symptoms

Thu, 08 Dec 2005 15:24:00 PST

With every increase or decrease in depressive symptom severity, there is a corresponding significant and stepwise increase or decrease in psychosocial disability among patients with bipolar disorder, according to a study in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Bipolar disorder is characterized by cycles of depression and abnormal elation, or mania. It has been found to be associated with increased suicidal behavior, increased health care use and costs, higher unemployment, higher dependence on public assistance, lower annual income, increased work absenteeism owing to illness, decreased work productivity, poorer overall functioning, lower quality of life, and decreased life span, according to background information in the article. Bipolar I disorder (BP-I), which includes episodes of mania, and bipolar II disorder (BP-II), which includes less severe episodes of abnormal mood elevation called hypomania, are dimensional illnesses in which patients experience fluctuating levels of severity of manic and depressive symptoms, interspersed with symptom-free periods.

BOLDER II (BipOLar DEpRession) study - Quetiapine effective in bipolar depression

Mon, 24 Oct 2005 13:57:00 PST

Newly released top-line results from the BOLDER II (BipOLar DEpRession) study have underlined the potential for SEROQUEL (quetiapine fumarate) in the treatment of patients with major depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. In BOLDER II, SEROQUEL 300mg and 600mg doses achieved a statistically significant reduction in levels of bipolar depression compared with placebo (p less than 0.001), as measured by the change from baseline in MADRS* total score.1

Call for accurate screening of bipolar disorder

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 02:09:00 PST

The British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) has published an editorial paper highlighting the vital role GPs play in distinguishing between unipolar and bipolar disorder and treating it accordingly.

First study to test antipsychotic on depressive phase

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 13:50:00 PST

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated in separate short-term trials that a single drug therapy may be effective in treating both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder. The condition (bipolar I and II) affects approximately 8 million Americans, who have relied on a combination of drugs to manage their symptoms, and who remain at high risk of committing suicide because of the difficulty in treating the disorder.

Research zeros in on bipolar disorder genes

Fri, 17 Jun 2005 03:39:00 PST

Despite an intensive effort, researchers have yet to identify the genes that cause bipolar disorder, yet the practical benefits of such a discovery could reap rich rewards for those suffering from the mental illness.

DNA microarrays used to detect Bipolar Genes

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 05:34:00 PST

While lithium treatment has proven to be a godsend for many of the two million Americans with bipolar disorder, it is not without its downside. People on the drug may develop hypothyroidism, tremors, cognitive impairment, and excessive thirst and urination and gain weight.

FDA Approves Aripiprazole for Maintaining Efficacy in Bipolar I Disorder

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:50:00 PST

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) Tablets and Oral Solution for maintaining efficacy in patients with Bipolar I Disorder with a recent manic or mixed episode who had been stabilized and then maintained for at least six weeks.

Half of people with Bipolar Disorder experienced abuse in childhood

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 17:51:00 PST

Childhood abuse has been associated with many different types of adult psychiatric disorder, including suicidality, substance misuse and dependence, and psychosis. This study set out to examine the prevalence and types of childhood abuse reported by adult patients with bipolar disorder, and to relate them to the complexity of the current illness.